Antenna lead-in connector



March 15, 1960 s. A. PHILLIPS, JR 2,929,043

ANTENNA LEAD-IN CONNECTOR Filed June 19, 1956 Fig .2

Fig .4

VIII/111107144112} v 5 Fig .5 6 270 *5 272 4 E I'l /Ill l I If 26 0 25 2owl ,,,2 U 7' A r .222 Samuel A Phi/lips, Jr.

\ INVEN TOR.

/ I I I l I /I;Ill/III/llll]lll I/I/ 220 2 236 BY, MW

WWW

at s Pate 1 This invention relates "to means for connect-ing antennalead-ins such as conventional twin lead wiring or the like to varioustypes of electronic equipment such as television receivers, etc. 7 I

The connections between an antenna and the lead-in wires therefor areusually subjected to severe abuse due to fluctuating weather conditions,such as high winds, snow and rain storms, and the like thus causing aconsiderable number of broken connections at the iunction of the lead-inwires with the antenna. In order to correct any broken connections orthe like, it is usually necessary to strip the antenna lead-in wire ofinsulation and then connect it to the terminals provided on the antennaconnection block or the like. Since the antenna is usually mounted in acomparatively exposed position with relatively little accessibility, thepresent invention provides means for eliminating the necessity ofstripping the antenna wires of insulation and positioning them about theterminals by allowing the connection to be made in a simple operationthus reducing the time necessary for replacing connections whileeliminating considerable danger to the workmen.

The use of antenna lead-in wires for connection to antennae or totelevision receivers has resulted in the almost universal employment oftwin-lead conductors. It is usually necessary to strip the insulationfrom the antenna thus varying the initial capacitance of the conductorwhile also considerably reducing the eifective strength of the lead-inwire with respect to the connections made between the strippedconductors and the terminals. The present invention provides means forpermitting connections to be made without necessitating the stripping ofthe wires and which provides a locking means for holding the antennalead-in wire in place thus strengthening the assembly.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision ofmeans for splicing antenna lead-in wire without necessitating thestripping of the conductors of insulation.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in theprovision of antenna lead-in conductors that are strong and durable,simple in construction and manufacture, and which are inexpensive toproduce thereby permitting wide distribution and utilization.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of theinvention which will become apparent as the following descriptionproceeds, are attained by these antenna lead-in connectors, preferredembodiments of which have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings,by way of example only, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective viewof the invention employing an insulativecasing;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the invention as is shown in Figure 1with the casing removed therefrom;

Figure 3 is a sectional detail view as taken along the plane of line 33of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line44 in Figure 3;

Patented Mar. 15 1960 Figure '5 is a sectional view of another modified:form of the invention; I

Figure 6 is a sectional detail view of theembodiment of the inventiontaken on line 6-'-6 in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a sectional detail view of another modified form of theinvention; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a further form of antenna lead-inconnector. 7 p

Referring now particularly to the embodiment of the invention as isshown in Figures -1 through 4, it will be noted that herein there isdisclosed an insulative plate having a projecting portion "192 andhaving em- Ibedded therein a pair of contact elements V194 and .196 fromwhich suitable terminals .of any desired shape and size as at 198. and200 may extend outwardly.

The contacts 194 and 19.6 are positioned within a channel 202 which maybe a deepened or recessed portion 204. The contact plates 194 and 196extend at an acute angle with respect to the channel 2.02 and convergetoward the deepened or recessed portion :204 of the channel. Thus, whena twin-lead conductor as is indicated at 208 is positioned on the toothportions 194 and 196 in the channel 202, and .the casing210 is wedginglyplaced over the plate 190 so that the pressure plate 212 urges thetwin-lead 208 onto the teeth 194 and 196, the teeth 19.4 and 196 will:cross the individual conductors assuring that the contact elements 194and 196 will electrically engage the conductors of the twin-leadconductor.

The casing 210 is of course provided with a wedge shaped portion as at216 so as to enable it to be wedgingly received on the plate 190 and theportion 192 serves as a stop therefor.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention as is shown in Figures5 and 6, it will be noted that the antenna lead-in connector includes abody 260 formed of any suitable material, preferably of an electricallyinsulative plastic having a contact assembly as indicated at 262embedded therein which contact assembly not only includes a pair ofconverging tooth plates 264 but a pair of prong connectors 266 havingend portions 268 adapted to resiliently engage other electricalcontacts. The body has a cover plate 270 hingedly secured thereto as at272. Further, the cover plate 270 is provided with a wedgeshaped portion274 which is adapted to engage and press twin-lead conductor onto thetooth plates 264. It is noted that the tooth plates 264 are disposed ina recess 276 in the body 264. The wedge-shaped portion 274 extends intothe recess 276 and is provided with three arcuated or under-cut surfacesas at 278, 280, and 282 for allowing various size or thicknesses oftwin-lead conductor to be inserted into the recess and into engagementwith the tooth plates 264. A latch 286 is provided for holding the topplate 270 in a closed position.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention a is shown in Figure 7,it will be noted that herein there is disclosed a body 220 which isprovided with a wedge shaped recess 222 therein for reception of thecontact assembly provided therein. The contact assembly includes aplurality of tooth plates 226 embedded in the body or plate 220. Aresilient pressure plate has a hinge portion 228 embedded in the plate224 and is adapted to overlie the twin-lead conductor. This pressureplate 228 may be formed of metal or plastic as may be desired so as toprovide electrical insulation as may be found necessary. It is notedthat the twin-lead 234 may be inserted in the position as is shown inFigure 7 or the portion 228 of the pressure plate 222 may be aperturedfor reception of the twin-lead conductor.

The terminals 236 of any suitable configuration are integrally formedwith the toothed electrical contact elcments 226.

X further embodiment of the invention includes an 240 which has a pairof electrical contact elements embedded therein terminating in terminals242 and 244 of any suitable configuration. These electrical contactelements are similar to the contact elements 194 and 196 and arepositioned in much the same manner. A pressure plate 246 is hingedlysecured by means of a pin 248 to the insulative plate 240 and by meansof a catch 250 which sea-ts in a recess 252 in the plate 240, thepressure plate 246 may be locked in overlying relationship with respectto any twin-lead conductor inserted through the slot 254-provided in thepressure plate 246. In this manner, the pressure plates provide part ofthe means for lockingly holding the twin-lead conductor in position.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those by each of said plates will intersect a conductorof a lnsulative plate as is shown in Figure 8 and indicated at skilledinv the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exactconstruction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, allsuitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, fallingwithin the scope of the invention as claimed.

1 What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An antenna lead-in connector comprising an insulative body defining arectangular channel which opens through one end and one surface thereof,a pair of contact elements in the form of elongated plates embedded insaid body, tooth portions on each of said plates including teeth ofgraduated length extending into said channel, said plates convergingtoward each other wherelead-in, said graduated teeth being of a greaterlength toward the converging ends of said plates to engage the lead-ininsulation between the conductors thereof, a pressure plate having awedge-shaped portion arranged in overlying relationship with respect tosaid toothed portions in said channel, and means hingedly securing saidpressure plates to said body at said end which has said channel opening.v

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the diverging ends of said platesextend from said body and constitute plug prongs, and a latch carried bysaid pressure plate remote from said hinged end for detachableconnection to said body.

3. The antenna lead-in connector of claim 2 wherein said channelterminates at a distance inwardly of said body from said end which hassaid channel opening therethrough, to thereby forrn an abutment to limitthe extent ofpenetration of the antenna wire into said channel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FranceNov. 25, 1946 w has

